Doted By The Regent King
Chapter 168 Selling Sons and Daughters

Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Selling Sons and Daughters

The weather was extremely hot, and there were hardly any people walking around the town. Wufu, thinking that she wouldn’t be coming out to the town for a while, decided to first go to the grocery store to buy some necessities.

Remembering that Zhu Zijun had just said he wanted to take her as his master, the corners of Wufu’s mouth couldn’t help but rise again. A man old enough to be her father saying he wanted to take her as his master, didn’t that mean she must be quite capable? Her carving skills must have gained recognition as well, right?

Regardless, Zhu Zijun’s action had slightly satisfied Wufu’s vanity. Being recognized felt pretty good.

But to accept an apprentice? Forget about it. She knew herself well: lazy and averse to restrictions. Taking a disciple meant taking on responsibility. She couldn’t bear the duty of a master. Why mislead someone else?

Under the blazing sun, Wufu made her way to the grocery store and bought quite a few items. After chatting briefly with the owner, she heard a burst of crying and shouting outside.

"What a sin," the owner said as he stuck his head out the door and sighed.

Wufu also looked outside: "What happened?"

"What else could it be? The price of grain has gone up, and people can’t survive. They’re selling their sons and daughters," the owner said. "It’s become quite common these days."

"Because of the disaster?" The thought of selling sons and daughters made Wufu’s heart sink.

"Exactly. If it doesn’t rain soon, and the Government Office doesn’t provide disaster relief, things will get out of hand." The owner looked outside again, his brows furrowing. "These children will have a hard time in the future."

Wufu looked and saw a group of ragged children with sallow complexions and thin bodies standing in the scorching sun. A middle-aged, plump woman in fine silks and satins was fanning herself under the shade of a tree, looking disdainfully at the children.

"That woman, she’s a madam from the Wanchun Building in Huayang County," the owner said in a low voice.

Wanchun Building?

Wufu was taken aback and turned to the owner. Surely it wasn’t the kind of place she was thinking of?

The owner, a man, realized his indiscretion in front of someone Wufu’s age, coughed, and stammered, "It’s one of those dirty places."

It was the Flower Tower brothel.

Falling into such places, how could one come to any good?

Wufu watched as the madam picked out two children, both girls with delicate features and narrow chins, only a few years old.

Listening to the children crying and screaming, Wufu felt compassionate but helpless.

In a decaying country, once natural disasters or man-made calamities occurred, the selling of sons and daughters was rampant. What could she do about it?

Even without disasters, some poor families would choose this path. After all, people needed to survive; their decision was just heartlessly made.

Carrying her bamboo basket, Wufu stepped outside and was just about to turn and leave when she heard a commotion and shouting. Someone dashed toward her.

Thump.

A small figure collided with her, tumbling to the ground.

Wufu looked down and saw a little boy lifting his head. His clothes were tattered and his face dirtied, but his extreme beauty shone through.

His small face, sharp chin, and large eyes shimmered, and his nose was high and proud; he could be mistaken for a little girl.

Wufu thought the boy in front of her was actually a girl.

"Run, run, let’s see where you can run to!" A whip lashed out, striking the child, accompanied by cursing.

The child curled up into a ball, biting his lip tightly and not making a sound.

Coming back to her senses, Wufu looked up and saw a burly man. Another whip came flying toward them. Without thinking, she grabbed the whip and yanked it, shouting, "What are you doing?" It was just a child, and yet he had been so cruel.

The burly man hadn’t expected his whip to be taken, and he paused in shock. When he saw that it was a young girl, he became angry from embarrassment and swung his hand at her: "You little wretch, looking for death!"